DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines' average temperature over the first 12 days of February this year was the warmest on record, according to data from the National Weather Service.
From Feb. 1 through Feb. 12, the average temperature was 40.6° in the city.
An average of 40.6° boosts the first 12 days of February 2024 to the top spot in recorded history, beating the previous record of 40° in 1999 by more than half a degree.
It is important to note the period of record for this statistic dates back to 1940, or 84 years ago. The unusually high average this year is due to warmer-than-normal high and low temperatures each day.
For example, on Feb. 8, Des Moines reached a high of 63°, which beat the daily record by three full degrees.
A high of 57° or above was measured five times in the first 12 days of the month, on February 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Normally, high temperatures in early February are in the lower or middle 30s.
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No snow has fallen through the first 12 days of the month, and rain has also been difficult to find.
February's mild start comes just after Des Moines measured its second snowiest January on record, with 27.2" of fresh snow falling over just a few weeks.
Moving forward, the weather pattern favors more above-average temperatures in the second half of February, although there may be a few exceptions.
Around February 16 and 17, temperatures should dip closer to average levels, but even a brief chilly spell won't be enough to dramatically affect February's overall temperature.
It is unclear whether 2024 will remain in first place for the warmest average February temperature, but each mild day will bring us one step closer to reaching that spot.
